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Kenan Kinard, One Of The Killers Of Wounded WWII Veteran, Delbert “Shorty” Belton, Sentenced To 20 Years

WWII Vet Delbert Belton

In 2013, two teens attacked and brutally beat to death 88 Year old WWII Veteran Delbert “Shorty” Belton. Shorty served in the Pacific theatre in WWII and was wounded in the leg during the Battle of Okinawa. You can read the original story here – WWII Veteran Brutally Beaten By Two Teens.

One of the two teens charged in his death, Kenan Adams Kinard, was sentenced to 20 years in prison minus time served after he changed his plea to “Guilty” last month.

Kenan Kinard Sentenced To 20 Years

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The other teen charged in Shorty’s murder, Demetrius Glenn, asked for a continuance from the judge after he heard about the plea. Both were scheduled to go on trial last month, but was moved to March 2nd when Demetrius asked for a continuance after hearing about the plea change from his co-defendant.

“Uncle Delbert was brutally and savagely beaten to the point they couldn’t put his face back together,” one of Belton’s nephew’s told the court about the beating, saying his uncle had as much of a chance as an eight-year-old as he was being pummeled, during the victim impact statement phase of the sentencing Thursday afternoon. “This was not a beating. This was exceptionally cruel.”

According to KXLY.com:

Adams Kinard read a statement to the court, saying he had wept because of the shame and guilt that weighed heavy on his soul, and that he was not the same selfish, angry teen who first stood before Judge Annette Plese after his arrest in 2013.

“For too long I’ve had resentment toward authority, toward guidance, and ultimately toward the man in the mirror, but no longer,” he told the court.

Plese noted that Adams Kinard took accountability for his actions, “that’s what a does” but agreed with the recommendation that he be sentenced to 20 years in prison, minus time served.

As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Adams Kinard agreed to confess to the beating attack on Belton in exchange for prosecutors dropping robbery and conspiracy charges against him.

Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell explained last month that the sentencing recommendation being made by his office – approximately 20 years in prison – was appropriate considering the nature of the crime.

“The age of Mr. Kenan Kinard at the time of this incident, 16 years old, and including 16 year old immaturity, impetuosity and failure to appreciate risks, and consequences of an act, and also including the defendant’s home environment, and the facts that no weapons were used in the commission of this crime,” Haskell said shortly after Adams Kinard entered his plea.

You can see video of Shorty’s nephew speaking to the judge about his uncle, as well as a letter written by Kenan that he read to the court before his sentencing here – KXLY STORY

Pallbearers remove Delbert Belton’s casket from a hearse during a graveside service, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, in Greenwood Memorial Terrace in Spokane, Wash. The World War II veteran Belton, who died, Aug. 21, 2013, after being beaten to death during a robbery, was buried with full military honors.

We hope this gives some kind of closure to the family and friends of Shorty, the other murder suspect goes on trial next month, unless he also changes his plea. We also want to take a moment and thank Shorty for his service to our country, and to his family, Shorty will not be forgotten by his brothers and sisters in arms.